whatsamada | The City Inbox

.. hey, Ken.

[ Daniel sounds a little bit tired, but nothing too crazy. More just like someone who's Sure Had A Long Day, really. ]

With everything that's going on.. I just wanted to ask you if you're doing alright. Did you get involved with that awful-- well, I don't even know what it's supposed to be. This city may call it a Halloween party as much as it wants, but it's anything but that.

Edited 2023-10-30 19:36 (UTC)

[YEAH ABOUT THAT....???]

Would it upset you that I did get involved? I wasn't badly hurt but I did manage to get to the party just fine.

[Although, there was a hint of red on his face as he gave a mumble or two.]

But I kind of wished they gave me a costume that is a little less...noisy.

[ The man slowly exhales. ]

I mean.. I'm not mad, of course. [ Not that kind of upset. Especially when Daniel knows - through very personal experience - that many of them didn't have much of a chance when it came to ending up there.

So there's no way he'd blame Ken for that. ]

But it is pretty worrying to hear, yeah. Even if it sounds like it ended up relatively alright for you, you shouldn't have had to go through any of that. It was crazy.

I know but I don't think anyone should have gone through with it.

[Because based on what he had heard, there were a few others who had it much worse than he did. All he got were a couple of bruises and cuts. Some probably gotten killed from the way the actors overdid it.]

What about you? Did you go too?

.. yeah.

[ That tiny pause was him contemplating what to say here. It's not like he wants to worry Ken, after all. But.. he also doesn't want to lie to him, so at least admitting to this part feels like the better thing to do here. ]

I didn't plan on going, but this place brought me there all the same. I was just walking through a door, and then randomly found myself there instead out of the blue. It's like this place wasn't even giving us a choice, unlike last time.

You too, huh? It seems that this place is making us go to places where we don't want to.

[He said with a sigh. At least now he knows that the City could do something against the will of the people here.]

I was the same way, it felt like I had to go. I wonder is it the same with all the people who went.

Edited 2023-11-05 14:26 (UTC)

[ Daniel exhales. ]

Some people might have checked it out since the city advertised it to us.

[ Especially newer people, he thinks. The man had tried to warn a lot of the newcomers about the dangers of this place, but.. well, not everyone might necessarily connect the invitation to a Halloween party with danger.. ]

But I'm pretty sure everyone must have come out of there with the conclusion that everything that happened in there was terribly messed up. I can't believe this place is trying to even pit us against each other now. [ Like seeing awful illusions wasn't enough by itself, last time around. ]

I'm not surprised, I dealt with something similar.

[Especially when he had to fight against his friends and that he even have to fight against himself? Nothing about this place was shocking. Although, he could stand to be corrected.

All he could do was give a sigh.]

...Although, I really would like it if this place brought my spear and my powers back. I know I would want to be a kid but I would still need something to protect myself.

[ Nnnn, talk about something truly conflicting. Because on the one hand, Daniel would like for kids to not have to fight, thanks, but on the other hand.. Considering the nature of this place, it might be absolutely necessary.

It's just like Ken says, after all. He needs it to protect himself. And sure, there's karate, but.. there's only so much that can do against actual monsters, or people with special powers. ]

If you want, we could do a little more karate practice in the meantime. I'm not sure we can do anything about those other things, after all, but this is still something.

[ It's better than Ken having no method of self-defense at all. ]

I wouldn't be opposed to it.

[He had seen how Akihiko fights with his bare hands and especially how he had heard stories of him fighting bears. Perhaps this would be a good place to start.]

Any little bit helps, right? And I also get the feeling you'll probably keep bothering me until I say yes anyway.

[ ...

K-Ken, please, you can't do this to an old man.. ]

You're kind of making me sound like a bad guy now, you know..

[ He isn't that bad, is he? Daniel likes to think he doesn't nag that much! H-He's just trying to look out for the kids! ]

[Wait what?]

Of course not! It's just...

[He said before trailing off a little.]

Most of my teammates do the same thing to me so I'm used to hearing it from them. Not from someone else.

[ Thank you for assuring him this isn't a personal attack, boy. :( Daniel's heart is safe once more. ]

They did?

[ .. well, Ken is pretty young.. It makes Daniel imagine his teammates are probably older. ]

Well, if it's ever too much on my end, just-- let me know. All I want to do is make sure you're alright in this place, you know? Especially since it's only been proven once more how dangerous everything can be. [ Especially for the kids!! Who will think of the kids!! ]

[Was it really that surprising that they told him to not worry so much? Perhaps given how he wants to act so much older than he really is.]

...Again, I'll try to. I know it can get very dangerous here but I can't always make sure that I won't do something to protect myself.

[Although, he had a sinking feeling that Shinjiro (and Akihiko in the future now) would throw a fit should he ever get himself killed here.]

I don't think anyone is going to get mad if you do something to protect yourself, Ken.

[ His tone is gentle as he says it - understanding. After all, Daniel has been put into so many dangerous situations in his own life, even way before this place, that he knows you sometimes don't have a choice. ]

I just mean.. don't go looking for danger, you know? [ Not that he necessarily thinks Ken would..

.. but he just knows some kids who definitely would. Please be a good one, Ken. ]

Going out to look for a fight is no good, but sometimes the fight is brought to you regardless of whether you want it or not. Of course you should do anything you can to keep yourself safe at that point.

Which makes me hope that I won't have to do the unthinkable.

[Because knowing how this world works, he has a feeling he might have to do that one day. Especially knowing how this place can do something against their will? It makes him think that he would have to really hurt someone one day.

With that, he gave a long long pause before continuing.]

...But if that day ever comes, I suppose I'll be ready for it. If I was willing to do that once, I have feeling I'll do that again.

[ Jesus Christ, Ken, how high do you want this man's blood pressure to rise--

Because it's one thing to talk about kids in fights (something Daniel doesn't like, but also very much realises is unavoidable) and yet another to talk about kids going even a step beyond that. It doesn't matter that Ken has skirted that line before, Daniel still doesn't want him to have to go anywhere near it again. ]

Absolutely not.

[ Sorry, Ken!! Shutting this one down!! ]

There's never been a reason here so far to go that far. And even if there would be, there's better people to do that than you, Ken. [ HE'S NOT GOING TO TELL A 13 YEAR OLD 'THAT'S OK, GO MURDER'!! ]

That's...

[Well, he can't argue against that. He didn't want to think about killing nor did he want to do it but it had to be something he'll do should he survive in this place. And yet, he had to take a step back at the scolding. Indeed, he was hovering that line as he stared at the screen.]

...I just don't want anyone else to feel like they have to. I know I'm still young but...

[If it was something he had to do, he'll do it.]

No one in this place will have to do so.

[ It's a promise he can't live up to.

A tiny part of Daniel knows it. But a larger part of him wants to believe in that too. Especially since the mall and the party had been terrifying, but he'd gotten out of all sticky situations there without having to resort to something that awful. Maybe if he just believes in it hard enough, that won't change.

Besides, someone has to be a shield for these kids. He can't let a kid as young as Ken take that role upon him. ]

I'll make sure of it.

That is quite the statement you have. I really hope that neither of us or anyone will here.

[And yet, based on his tone, he wasn't sure if he could believe it. He wanted to be optimistic and especially when he knows such impossible things could happen. And yet, he also knows that he had to be realistic.

But who was he to ruin that for him?]

...Just promise me that you'll stay safe too, okay?

[ Without hesitation: ]

Of course, I promise.

[ Granted, it's easy to promise that when Daniel has been in so many dangerous situations in his life, and yet somehow made it alive out of every single one of them.. It means that he can promise this on his track record, and yet not feel guilty if he does ever have to jump into a dangerous situation here to save someone.

Sorry, Ken. ]

Just let the adults worry about that. I want you to be able to just do normal kid stuff here, Ken. As much as you can. Go and practice your hobbies, or.. you know, eat some nice cake. Do little things to treat yourself. [ He knows it's hard to not worry about the weight of the world and all, but.. be nice to your young, young self, Ken!! ]

[And yet, as much as Ken wanted to keep that promise, he didn't know just how much he could do that. With a mumble or two, he gave a sigh.]

...Then perhaps I should try and get some cake to relax.

[Granted, his sense of duty and responsibilities keep preventing him from doing so as he also needed to remind himself that, yes he was just a kid.]

Do you want to join me in getting some?

Get some? I could bake you one, you know.

[ Please, Ken. Did you not expect this? Is Daniel not obviously Dad enough as a person that of course he'd offer this instead?

Especially when stress baking practically is his way of dealing with the sheer pressure this place puts on him at all times. ]

All you have to do is let me know your favourite kind, and we can have some together. Or you could invite some of your friends, that's fine with me.

Uh...

[Well, he wasn't expecting this either. Here, he was trying his best to be polite and now Daniel managed to flip things around! Now what? The pressure was on him now!]

...Well, I'm not picky when it comes to cake. How about you surprise me with whatever you want?

[ Sorry, Ken. Flipping stuff like this around on teens is practically Daniel's expertise.. You fell right into his trap.. ]

Sure, I can do that. [ He just hopes Ken really does mean that he isn't picky, rather than saying it to make things easier on Daniel. ] How about you stop by the diner tomorrow, if you've got time then? I'll have a cake ready.

Yeah, that's fine. I'll be ready by then!

[And it's a good thing that Ken wasn't picky because in this point in his life, he couldn't afford to me!]

I hope that it'll be a good surprise!

The City Inbox

voice; un: d.larusso; sometime near the end of october

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